A53732:794
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government ... by the late pious and learned minister of the Gospel, John Owen ...
London: printed for William Marshall, 1689
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. THE Lord Christ himself is the Original and Spring of this Union, and every particular Church is united unto him as its Head, besides which, with or under which, it hath none. This Relation of the Church unto Christ as its Head, the Apostle expressly affirms to be the foundation and cause of its Union, Ephes. 4.15, 16. Col. 2.19. the places before quoted. Hereby it is also in God the Father, 2 Thes. 1.1. Or hath God as its Father. And unless this Union be dissolved, unless a Church be disunited from Christ, it cannot be so from the Catholic Church, nor any true Church of Christ in particular; however, it may be dealt withal by others in the World.
1. THE Lord Christ himself is the Original and Spring of this Vnion, and every particular Church is united unto him as its Head, besides which, with or under which, it hath none. This Relation of the Church unto Christ as its Head, the Apostle expresly affirms to be the foundation and cause of its Union, Ephes. 4.15, 16. Col. 2.19. the places before quoted. Hereby it is also in God the Father, 2 Thes. 1.1. Or hath God as its Father. And unless this Union be dissolved, unless a Church be disunited from Christ, it cannot be so from the Catholick Church, nor any true Church of Christ in particular; however, it may be dealt withal by others in the World.
FROM Christ, as the Head and Spring of Union, there proceedeth unto all particular Churches, a bond of Union, which is his Holy Spirit, acting it self in them by Faith and Love, in and by the ways and means, and for the ends of his appointment.